Trump calls for new Ukrainian president, blames Zelensky for war and diesel prices

President Donald Trump told reporters on October 11, 2026 that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky does not want to make a deal with Russia and that Ukraine should hold elections to replace him.

The remarks arrive amid a Trump‑backed agreement allowing Russia to ship large quantities of diesel fuel to the United States and worldwide markets, a deal the president says will drive down diesel prices for American farmers, ranchers and truckers.

“I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal, because he could have made many deals that for some reason, he never does,” Trump said, adding that the war “should never have started.”

Trump also referenced a recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that Putin expressed a strong desire for a settlement and was “freeing up a lot of oil for the world at a very low price.”

In a Truth Social post, Trump announced that Russia would immediately supply over 300,000 tons of diesel to the American and global marketplace, another 500,000 tons in November, and 1 million tons shortly thereafter, with a further 3 million tons promised once refinery conditions improve.

Zelensky responded on X, condemning the diesel deal as a “carte blanche for Russia to wage unlimited war on Ukrainian civilians,” and warned that revenue from the exports would fund additional weapons, missile production and mercenary recruitment.

The president also tied the diesel issue to Zelensky’s military actions. He said Ukraine had been asked not to target Russian diesel refineries in long‑range strikes, a request Trump says was ignored, contributing to higher diesel costs in the United States. He cited the national average diesel price of $6.28 a barrel, up from $3.67 in 2025, as evidence of the economic impact.

Trump’s call for a new Ukrainian leader follows his broader criticism of the war, claiming Ukraine has lost 30 percent of its territory and that more than two million people have been killed, figures he repeated from earlier statements.

The White House and Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.